Check Out The Bean Town Frog

Laurie,

I would recommend a program like SopCast / TvAnts /TvKoo, instead of shelling out money for Setanta broadband. Sites like http://www.asiaplatetv.com/aptv_today.htm
have fairly reliable schedules and various links for the games depending on your program (sopcast et. al). As for the ongoing striker situation, I feel that perhpas Anelka and Trezeguet could bring some excitement to the pitch, I think Anelka hasn’t done enough to prove he deserves a starting spot. He has played well at times this season, but he doesn’t create so much as finish. This was a ginormous issue in the Argentina game last week, (too many home run balls being played from 35 yards out, with no end results). Les Bleus had the possession a fairly large amount of time, but lacked the final touches you have aptly pointed out. As for previous comments on Abidal being a stalwart, yes at times he plays sublimely, but it was his man that scored the goal, and he gave away a number of passes. if you are ever in the NYC area, nevadasmiths.net is an amazing place to watch the games (I go when my college schedule permits, as there are always natives there to talk to). Good job on this blog, and I am glad o have finally found some like-minded Americans who like a real equipe de foot comment La Marsellaise! ALLEZ LES BLEUS!

Was it Abidal who was supposed to be marking Saviola? I’d been trying hard to figure that out. (And by “trying hard to figure that out” I of course mean, “When I didn’t see it during the actual game, I watched one or two YouTube videos.” Yes, I have been a bit remiss in my post-game research and reporting. Busy week.)

As for Anelka. Oh, the vastness of his unrealized potential. Plus he’s so fun to watch. (Henry bores me. Don’t tell anybody I said that.) As I said after the France-Greece game, I’ll bet Anelka burned ants with a magnifying glass as a child.

If you were picking your dream team, offensively speaking, who would you pick? Assuming 4-4-2. (Or not, whatever.)

Oh, and I’ll definitely try AsiaPlateTV. I’d been going with my friends, the Chinese footy pirates, but they suddenly stopped working for me for some reason.

I think offensively I would go with Govou and Henry, watching the Italy-France game on my computer in September was out of this world. They completely dominated the Italians and Govou played extremely well. His attacking midfielder sense coupled with Forward experience is a great foil to Henry, who has found difficulty in the one striker set that Domenech had employed in prior games. Most painfully the Switzerland-France 0-0 match in October ‘05. Infusing the pair with a complete animal like Cissé would also fair well for Les Bleus. Refusing to call up Giuly based on the fact he is a Scorpio is completely absurd, and I think they are lacking possible leadership by doing this. After watching Arsenal rip apart Bolton yesterday, I need to see Clichy play for Les Bleus, he is absolutely terrifying as a defensive threat and has the speed to outrun nearly everyone on the pitch. I’m currently working on a football blog as well, and I’ll let you know when it is presentable for public linkage (shameless plug).

a+,
Jersey_bleus

“After watching Arsenal rip apart Bolton yesterday, I need to see Clichy play for Les Bleus”

Clichy is a little god – he and Denilson are just amazing. Fantastic match, just incredible football (I’m a truebluegunner and think Wenger is a major Deity). Clichy should be on the French squad. Would love to see your website when it’s ready. I’m a New Yorker too — nice to see there are Americans who actually do like the French.

Sandrahn,

I gathered some friends for this blog attempt, so there should be 3-4 more columns up this weekend. So far this is what we are working with:

http://lequipemoustache.blogspot.com/

Laurie,
I linked to yours on my page, don’t feel obligated though, It is still very rough around the edges.

a la prochain,
L’Americain

I am quite certain I’ll link to you before long. (There aren’t a lot of English-language blogs that discuss French soccer.)

And as I’ve said, I’m easy — link to me and YOU become my new favorite blog.

Oh, by the way, I broke down and ordered Setanta broadband today. The deciding factor was the “On Demand” feature, which makes it worth the $$ for me. I’m currently watching the France-Italy game which I had to miss last September. (I’m amazed I survived, but here I am.)

I’m suddenly agreeing with you about Govou and Henry. (I’d forgotten that Govou scored 69 seconds into this game.) I wonder why Domenech hasn’t gone with that combo again.

I would love matches on demand, but sadly, college isn’t a very plentiful time for money. So I get to stick with Chinese commentary and slow servers with the p2p clients, definitely was terrible watching the video freeze right before Cissé broke his leg. I was watching then all of a sudden he’s down and I’m thinking ‘not again’. Turns out camembert isn’t too good for building bones.